Are you struggling to understand music intervals as a guitarist?

This is something that boggled my brain for a while. But once I cracked the code on it, guitar parts in songs, music theory, and my ear training improved a lot. You see, most guitar players have never done any ear training before.  

It wasn’t something I ever did until I went to music school. And to make matters worse, not 1 in 1,000 guitar instructors knows how to properly teach it either. 

There are some so-called “ear training experts” out there. But they don’t have a complete step-by-step system from scratch, and they often go way too fast. They’ve forgotten what it’s like to have a beginner's mind when it comes to music and ear training.

This means that if a player is not already experienced or advanced, then they can easily end up stuck, frustrated, and spinning their wheels – just like I was. 

An interval is simply the distance between 2 notes. Below I want to dive into the 12 most common music intervals I ...

My first guitar teacher taught me the modes.

I remember leaving my lessons with a sheet of paper that had all these patterns ​handwritten out in blue pen.

He wrote strange words above each pattern like Ionian and Dorian… In this post, I want to talk about one of those modes… How to play the Dorian scale on guitar. This scale is a great one to know whether you are a beginner or an advanced player. 

I’ll share two different ways to play the A Dorian scale on guitar. Plus how to practice it, and finally, a few examples of songs and progressions where I would use the Dorian scale on context.

So make sure you’re tuned up, and let’s get started!

What is the Dorian scale on guitar?

The Dorian scale is the second mode of the major scale. It’s a minor scale with a natural 6th. If you compare it with the natural minor scale (Aeolian), you raise the 6th tone. This one change gives it a slightly brighter, jazzier feel compared to the natural minor (Aeolian) scale.

Let’s look at an exampl...

Years ago, I was at a gig in a club in Los Angeles listening to my old mentor play Ron Anthony – guitarist for Frank Sinatra.

There were a bunch of other great guitar players there too in the audience. They all would come out to hear Ron play because he was so good. At this time, I had just gotten my driver’s license and was definitely the youngest one hanging around in the club. But these older musicians would all hang out, and share stories, and tips about guitar.

After the gig, we were chilling out backstage and into the alley behind the club. I got to talking with this one guitarist and they said, “Have you started learning your triads on guitar yet?”

I said, “No, what do you mean?"

They pulled out a nylon string guitar from the back of their trunk and started showing me these chord shapes moving up and down the neck.

I was blown away and tried to soak up everything they were sharing. When I got home, I went to work practicing these guitar triads.

Below I want to share wit...

Let’s talk about how to play the harmonic minor scale on guitar. This scale is a great scale to know whether you are a beginner or an advanced player. 

In this post, I’ll share two different ways to play the A harmonic minor scale on guitar. How to practice the A harmonic minor scale. And finally, a few examples of songs that use the harmonic minor scale, so you can hear the sounds in context. 

So make sure you’re tuned up. And let’s get started!

What is the A harmonic minor scale on guitar?

The A harmonic minor scale on guitar is just a series of 7 notes in a row. It is a way of grouping together a specific set of notes similar to the A natural minor scale but with one change. The A harmonic minor scale has a very specific sound to it, and the notes form the foundation for putting together chords in a minor key.

What notes are in the A harmonic scale?

The notes in the A harmonic minor scale are:

A - B - C - D - E - F - G# - A

This scale is based on the A natural minor scale...

Are you struggling to play the F chord on guitar?

This chord can be quite the bugaboo for guitar players. In fact, there’s a reason why it’s called the “F” chord. 

Many guitarists hate and avoid it like the plague.

But I can show you how to not become one of those players - pain-free. In this post, I want to reveal some powerful tips to help you overcome what may feel like an insurmountable mountain.

So grab your guitar, and let’s learn how to play the F chord step-by-step!

What notes are in an F chord?

From a theoretical point of view, the F chord is built the same as any other major chord on guitar. However, because of the way the guitar is tuned (in standard tuning) only the open A string can be used in an F chord. But because it’s such a low note, it’s not ideal to have ring out. This means essentially you need more guitar skills like muting and bar technique.

Let me explain…

Major chords are built from a specific interval set. An interval is the distance between 2 notes...

Many people say: 

“I already know bar chords.”

As if there is a set amount. And once you can do them that’s it. Sure, some players might think of bar chords as being something like the dreaded F chord. And a few other variations. 

But this is very limited thinking.  

There are crazy advanced bar chords and even bars used in countless hit songs’ solos. Are these considered when they say “bar chords?”

What’s more important, is taking time to make sure you’ve mastered the fundamental technique. If you’ve mastered the bar technique, then you should be able to say… 

“I can play 2 string, 3 string, 4 string, 5 string, and even 6 string bars effortlessly. I use this technique in a very relaxed way for rhythm and soloing. And it doesn’t matter what style I am playing, or even if I am on an acoustic guitar with high action, outside in the cold.” 

Jimi Hendrix was a master of it. 

In this post,I want to help you further expand your horizons of the bar technique. Below are 5 famous exa...

There’s a sneaky little chord that comes up in many songs. And if you’re a guitarist who wants to play all your favorite songs, then you might want to know about it. It’s called a “sus” chord.

In this post, I want to reveal some insider tips on what every guitarist needs to know about sus chords and how you can start playing them like a pro today.

Let’s get started with…

What are suspended chords?

Many guitarists I’ve spoken with over the years think that “sus” stands for sustained. But it actually stands for suspended. 

A suspended chord is a type of chord that on guitar typically replaces the 3rd note of the chord with the 2nd or 4th degree from the scale. Suspended chords in music create an unresolved feeling. They give the music a slight sense of tension and anticipation.

They can be applied to simple major and minor chords, as well as sophisticated jazz chords. In a typical major or minor chord, the third note determines the quality of the triad. Whether the chord sounds ...

If you hate and avoid bar chords, today I want to share with you a lesson that just might change your mind…

In fact, learning this one concept can completely re-frame how you view the guitar neck.

Did you know the ENTIRE fretboard can be organized and mastered for RHYTHM and LEAD with bar chords?

Yup, the same old bar chords that many intermediate players call “boring”

Big mistake…

I dive deep into how this works in my CAGED guitar system program. But this is something you won’t learn on YouTube or anywhere online.  

But the masters know this…

Today I want to give you a glimpse into this new mindset.  

You’ve got to first start with how bar chords work

Then you can see how this powerful concept helps you crack the fretboard code.

So tune up, and let’s dive and see how bar chords are awesome.

Bar Chord Theory

The first step to mastering bar chords is understanding how they work. You want to see the theory behind them. This will help you in 2 big ways.

1. Crack the fretboa...

If I had to pick just one scale to know, I would choose the pentatonic scale.

The pentatonic is the basis of so many great songs. 

It’s a scale every guitarist needs to know. 

So today I am going to share with you some fundamentals of the scale. And also some tips and tricks for practicing it.

Tune up, and let’s get started! 

What is the C major pentatonic scale on guitar?

"Pentatonic" comes from the Greek words "pente," which means "five," and "tonos," which means "tone" or "note." So, "pentatonic" literally means "five notes." In music theory, a pentatonic scale is a scale consisting of five notes within one octave.

The C major pentatonic scale is very similar to the seven note C major scale. It just has 2 less notes. 

The notes of the C major pentatonic scale are: C, D, E, G, and A.  

Here are the notes of the C major pentatonic scale in order:

C (the root note)

D (the major 2nd)

E (the major 3rd)

G (the perfect 5th)

A (the major 6th)

This can be played on guitar l...

Let’s talk about how to play the C major scale on guitar. This scale is a great scale to know whether you are a beginner or an advanced player. 

In this post, I’ll share two different ways to play the C major scale on guitar. How to practice the C major scale. Songs that are in the key of C and use the C major scale. Plus we’ll even cover some music theory and a few other common questions about the C major scale.

So make sure you’re tuned up. And let’s get started!

What is the C major scale on guitar?

The C major scale on guitar is just a series of 7 notes in a row. It is a way of grouping together a specific set of notes. The C major scale serves as a foundation for understanding music theory, chord construction, and melody creation. It’s used as a reference point for establishing keys and building chords and harmonies within the key of C major.

What notes are in the C major scale?

The notes in the C major scale are:

C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C

These are the natural no...